Printed board connector

Abstract

According to this invention, a printed board connector includes a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector. The first connector is mounted on an upper surface of an edge portion of a printed board and constituted by a first housing and a first contact. The second connector is mounted on a lower surface of the edge portion of the printed board at an opposite position of the first connector with respect to the printed board and constituted by a second housing and a second contact. The third connector is constituted by a third contact formed on one of the upper and lower surfaces of the edge portion of the printed board by a conductive metal layer and a third housing formed by opposite side surfaces of the first and second housings.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A printed board connector comprising: a first connector mounted on an upper surface of an edge portion of a printed board and constituted by a first housing and a first contact;   a second connector mounted on a lower surface of the edge portion of said printed board at an opposite position of said first connector with respect to said printed board and constituted by a second housing and a second contact; and   a third connector constituted by a third contact formed on one of said upper and lower surfaces of the edge portion of said printed board by a conductive metal layer and a third housing formed by symmetrically aligning said first housing with said second housing.   
     
     
       2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second contacts is constituted by a plurality of pin contacts. 
     
     
       3. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the edge portion of said printed board has an ear having said third contact. 
     
     
       4. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said first, second, and third contacts have the same shape. 
     
     
       5. A connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first, second, and third contacts, which comprise a group of contacts, has a shape different from that of other contacts in the group. 
     
     
       6. A mounting structure of edge connectors on a printed board, including a plurality of contacts and a housing, comprising: one connector portion constituted by said plurality of contacts and a rectangular housing fitting hole, said rectangular fitting hole having two divided recessed housing fitting holes, wherein said connector portion is mounted on each of upper and lower surface edges of said printed board to obtain first and second connectors mounted symmetrical with each other through said printed board, recessed housing fitting holes of said first and second connectors are opposite to each other to form a rectangular housing fitting hole of a third connector, and a copper film pad formed on said printed board serves as a contact of said third connector and extends into said housing fitting hole of said third housing.   
     
     
       7. A connector, to be surface-mounted at an edge of a printed board, including a plurality of contacts and a housing, said housing comprising: a first volume enclosed on at least four sides and containing a plurality of contacts, said first volume defining a first fitting hole;   a second volume extending from one side of said first fitting hole and being enclosed on at least three sides, one of the enclosed sides of said second volume being coincident with a closed side of said first volume, and wherein an edge of said printed board may enter said second volume through an open side thereof; and   a second housing, said second housing comprising a third volume enclosed on at least four sides and containing a plurality of contacts, said third volume defining a second fitting hole; and a fourth volume extending from one side of said second fitting hole and being enclosed on at least three sides, one of the enclosed sides of said fourth volume being coincident with a closed side of said third volume, said fourth volume being mateable with said second volume to form a third fitting hole, wherein said edge of said printed board may be disposed within said third fitting hole.